Viewpoint: Organization says thanks, looks ahead

At the January 22 Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin volunteers, board members and staff were happy and humbled to accept the 2014 Non-Profit Organization of Year Award. Since beginning services here in January 2014, Big Brothers Big Sisters has...

February 2, 2015

At the January 22 Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Wisconsin volunteers, board members and staff were happy and humbled to accept the 2014 Non-Profit Organization of Year Award.

Since beginning services here in January 2014, Big Brothers Big Sisters has partnered with the School District of Rhinelander to provide the Site-Based Program, where the Big and Little meet at school weekly for lunch; and recently, upon Kinship of the North’s dissolution, expanded services to include the Community Based Program, where the Big and Little participate in activities they both enjoy such as fishing, baking or walking the dog. Thank you, everyone at Kinship of the North for your decades of service.

It is exciting that the Rhinelander community has embraced the Big Brothers Big Sisters mission to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported 1-to-1 relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.

It’s a mission bolstered by research showing that children who have a Big Brother or Big Sister are more likely than their non-mentored peers to have improved performance in school, better social relationships, and better avoidance of drugs and alcohol. These positive outcomes last a lifetime for the Little, and Bigs also report that mentoring changes their lives for the better, too.

To find out more about being a Big Brother or Big Sister, or to enroll a child, call our Administrative Office at 800-648-1696 or visit our website www.bbbsnw.org.

There are many other ways to support our mission:

• Invite us to speak to your business or organization
• Get a team together for the “I Love Rock n’ Bowl” Bowl for Kids’ Sake, April 10 at Hodag Lanes—it’s great fun and you can register your team on our website
• Be a Bowl for Kid’s Sake Sponsor—deadline is March 5th
• Join the Northwoods Regional Board of Directors
• Make a donation